Stadium seat and bottle carrier

ABSTRACT

A combined stadium seat and carrier for bottled beverages including two half shell sections hinged together, whereby the sections may be fastened in envelope defining configuration or, alternatively, in the unhinged condition, form a stadium seat. A beverage carrier is mounted between the shells which are provided with padding, the padding functioning, in the envelope defining position, as shock insulator for the beverage containers, and in the open position as a pair of cushions for covering adjacent seats or the back and cushion of a single seat.

United States Patent [1 1 Karzmar 3,763,972 Oct. 9, 1973 STADIUM SEATAND BOTTLE CARRIER Inventor: Martin Karzmar, Millburn, NJ. PrimaryExaminer Donald Nam) Attorney-Mark T. Basseches et :11. Apr. 26, 1972[22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A combined stadium seat and carrier for bottled bev- [21]Appl. No.: 247,779

erages including two half shell sections hinged together, whereby thesections may be fastened in envelope defining configuration or,alternatively, in the un- 8 .M Ilu H0 2 ,4 .,ooA 78 5 I B7 59 ,2 8 I 0 n9 l H r L C C QM L U .m .l. 2 l 5 5 .l .1.

Field of 19o/,42; 297/17, hinged a Stadium A beverage carrier is mountedbetween the shells which are provided with padding, the paddingfunctioning, in the 297/118, 217, 188; 5/357; ISO/2.2, 2.5

envelope defining position, as shock insulator for the References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS beverage containers, and in the open position as apair 190/42 190/42 Bramming........................... 297/118 3 Claims,8 Drawing Figures 2,819,776 2,865,433 Warner....... 3,120,404

1 STADIUM SEAT AND BOTTLE CARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fieldof the Invention The-present invention is in the field of stadiumaccessories, providing a composite carrier which may be converted foruse as a cushion for stadium seats.

2. The'Prior Art It is known to provide various types of cushions foruse by stadium goers or in like situations, as a means of increasing thecomfort of the spectator. It is also known that spectators frequentlydesire to bring beverages to various athletic and like events, andcontainers for bottles of such beverages are available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a combinedstadium seat and bottle carrier, characterized by the provision ofseparable but hingedly connected shells or cushion components which maybe selectively joined together to form a convenient'carrier for bottledbeverages.

The device includes padded wall portions which, in the bottle carriermode, act to prevent breakage of the bottles by providing paddingsurrounding the bottles, reducing the chance of accidental breakageshould the unit be jarred, struck or dropped.

When the spectator arrives at the stadium, the envelope may be opened,the device, in the open position, providing a pair of seat cushionswhich may be placed over the horizontal component of two adjacentstadium seats or benches, or may be folded at right angles to each otherto cushion the back and seat components for a single user.

The apparatus includes a bottle carrier sheet which is hingedlyconnected to the interior of the apparatus by fastener means which maybe selectively assembled to the apparatus in at least two differentpositions, whereby when the apparatus is used to cover the horizontalportion of adjacent seats or benches, the bottle carrier will hang in aconvenient position for access in the space in front of the occupants.The fastening connection may be adjusted such that where the cushionsare employed as back and seat coverings for a single occupant, thebottle carrier sheet will again hang in front of the occupant.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a bottlecarrier or the like which may be converted to a stadium seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed wherein padded portions forming cushioning for the spectatorwill act to prevent accidental breakage of the bottles in transit.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe type described wherein the bottle carrier sheet may be assembled tothe remainder of the device in at least two selected positions whereby,in the cushioning mode, bottles may be supported in a convenientposition in front of a user or users of the cushions whether the deviceis used to cover two horizontal adjacent seat sections or the back andhorizontal portion of a single seat.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier and stadium seat inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a magnified vertical sectional view taken 0 the line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the unit set up for covering theback and horizontal portion of a single seat;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 wherein the device is set upto cover the horizontal portion of two adjacent seats;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bottle carrier in the open positionthereof;

FIG. 6 is a magnified vertical section on the line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a magnified perspective view of a separate fastener assemblyof the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7;

FIG. 8 is an exploded preassembly perspective view a of a portion of afurther embodiment of the invention.

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein the combined stadiumseat and bottle carrier 10 is comprised of two separate shell assemblies11, 12, which are hingedly connected together at a hinge line 13. As theshell halves are identical, a description of one will suffice.

Each shell half includes a back wall portion 14 which optionally butpreferably may be made of vinyl or like yieldable decorative plasticmaterial and which, for the sake of appearance, may resemble leather,etc. Each of the shells 11 and 12, as best seen in FIG. 5, isrectangular in plan.

The shells are defined by a circumferential skirt 15 in the nature ofastrip or web having edges in common with the margins, 16, 17, l8, 19 ofthe back wall portion 14. The free edge 20 of the strip or skirt 15defines an open mouth portion.

It will be appreciated from the description that the backs and stripportions of the shells may be made from a single blank which has beensuitably connected together to define the structure above described or,alternatively, separate elements may be integrated, as by heat sealing,sewing, or the like, to arrive at the desired.

structure. Similarly, a single blank may be employed in the formation ofboth shell halves, the specifics of fabrication being immaterial to thepresent invention.

The shell halves are connected together along the common fold or hingeline 13, whereby relative pivotal movement of at least about 270 of theshell halves about the hinge line is permitted.

The free edges ,20 of the skirt portions 15 are provided withcomplemental fastener means, such as intererigageable halves 21, 22 of aslide fastener. When the halves 21, 22 arelinked by operation of therunner 23, it will be observed that the shells are integrated into anenclosed envelope, as shown in FIG. 2. a

To the interior face of each back wall portion 14 there is affixed asponge rubber, urethane, or like padding member 24, which adds shape tothe apparatus and provides the desired cushioning effects for thespectator when the apparatus is in use as a seat cover, the padding alsosafe-guarding the contents of the assembly when the same is in theenvelope forming position.

Optionally but preferably, in order to shield the readily abraded spongematerial 24, an inner wall covering member 25 is disposed in theinterior of the envelope in covering relation of the padding 24, themargins of the overlay being stitched or heat sealingly connected as at26, to the interior face of the skirt l5.

A separable bottle carrier sheet 27 is mounted to one of the shellhalves by separable fastener assemblies 28, next to be described. Thefastener assemblies may be of any selected type, such as snap fasteners,slotted grommets, etc.

In each of the embodiments, means are provided for fastening the bottlecarrier sheet 27 in one of two selected positions to the interior of theenvelope member. Such means is provided by affixing elements 29, 29' ofthe complemental fastener assemblies 28 at spaced points on the carriersheet adjacent the margin thereof. Each element 29, 29' is adapted to bereleasibly received on a complemental element 30, 31 or 32 fixed atspaced positions on the facing sheet 25.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, the fastener elements 29,29' comprise grommets 33 having an enlarged slot portion 33' formedthereon. The elements 30, 31 and 32 comprise base portions 34, securedto the sheet 25, having a projecting rotatable stem 35, the stemcarrying at its end 36 a cylindrical button. Fastener 29 is secured toits complemental fastener by aligning the broad faces of the cylindricalbutton 36 with the parallel walls of-the slot 33', sleeving the slottedmember over the button until the same is aligned with the stem 35, andthereafter rotating the button through 90, preventing removal of theportion 29 from the portion 30.

It will be appreciated from an inspection particularly of FIG. 5 thatthe elements 29, 29' may be coupled either to the elements 30 and 31,respectively, or to the elements 31 and 32, respectively.

The importance of adjustably securing the bottle carrier sheet to theassembly will become apparent from an inspection of FIGS. 3 and 4. InFIG. 3, the halves 11 and 12 are shown to have been opened through anarc of 270 so as to lie in planes 90 apart, the half I2 being disposedadjacent the back of a seat portion and the half 11 overlying thehorizontal component of the seat. In this orientation, the fastener 29is secured to the complemental element 30, and the fastener 29' to theelement 31, whereupon the bottle carrier sheet will hang in front of thespectator.

Where the apparatus is to be used to cover the horizontal components oftwo adjacent seats, the fastener 29 is secured to the complementalfastener 32 and the fastener 29' is secured to the complementalcomponent 31, whereby the bottle carrier sheet will again hang in frontof one of the two spectators whose seats are cushioned as shown in FIG.4.

As will be evident from the description, a permanent but pivotalconnection may be made at 29' and 31 since this coupling forms a commondenominator for both orientations of the bottle carrying sheet.

A variation of the attachment system is shown in FIG. 8, which variationincorporates snap fastener means as the coupling between the bottlecarrier sheet and the remainder of the assembly.

In this embodiment, flap members 37 and 38 are secured to the adjacentperpendicular margins of the facing sheet 25. The carrier sheet 27'includes adjacent its upper edge 39 male coupling components 40 and 41of a snap fastener assembly. Flap member 37 includes adjacent its end,female coupling components 42 and 43. In similar fashion flap member 38includes female couplings 44 and 45.

Where the configuration of FIG. 3 in the embodiment of FIG. 8 isdesired, couplings 40 and 41 are engaged'with couplings 42 and 43,respectively. Where the apparatus is to be assembled as shown in FIG. 4,couplings 40 and 41 are secured to complemental couplings 44 and 45,respectively.

For convenience, a pair of carrier handles 46, 47 are provided, it beingunderstood that while the carrier handles are shown fixed to the deviceat opposite sides of the seam or hinge line 13, such positioning isoptional, and the handle may be mounted to any face of the skirt 15.

The bottle carrier sheet is provided with one or more carrier pouches48, 49 which may merely comprise an overlayer sheet connected to thecarrier sheet 27, with appropriate heat sealed or stitched connectorlines extending between the noted sheets in a desired conformation tooutline an individual pouch or pouches in the areas between the seallines.

From the foregoing it will be evident that there is disclosed anapparatus which may be readily converted from a carrier to a stadiumseat. The same padded or cushioning material which functions to renderthe stadium seat more comfortable in the opened-up condition of thecarrier also functions to insulate the beverage bottles in the envelopedefining position of the apparatus.

By providing variable connections between the bottle carrier sheet andthe interior of the apparatus, a bottle supported by the carrier sheetwill always be conveniently disposed relative to the spectator, whetherthe apparatus is used as a covering for a single seat or for twoadjacent seats.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what isclaimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined stadium seat and carrier for liquor or the like,comprising first and second open half shells, each including arectangular back wall portion, a rectangular tubular skirt having afirst rectangular edge fixed to and co-extensive with the margins ofeach said back wall portion, the other edge of said skirt defining anopen rectangular mouth portion, connection means hingedly joining oneside of a mouth portion of one said shell with a complemental side ofthe mouth portion of the other said shell for folding movement about alinear attachment area to enable said shells to be folded from an openposition to a closed position whereat the free edges of said skirts arejuxtaposition to define an enclosed envelope, complemental fastenermeans along said free edges of said mouth portions surrounding saidattachment area, said fastener means being shiftable between joining andunjoining positions of said mouth portions, a flexible sheet disposedwithin said envelope,

hinge connector means joining said sheet to said envelope for movementabout a pivot axis parallel to one of said margins of one said backwall, said sheet being of a size substantially equal to the area of saidback, said sheet being foldable about said pivot axis between a storageposition whereat said sheet is enclosed within said envelope to adispensing position whereat said sheet hangs perpendicular to said oneback wall, bottle carrier means mounted on said sheet for holding aliquor bottle or the like, and a rectangular padding member ofsubstantial thickness fixed to each said back wall portion, said paddingmembers, in the envelope defining position of said device, providingshock insulators for a bottle held in said carrier means and, in theopen position of said device, defining a pair of seat cushions.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hinge connectormeans for said sheet includes a spaced pair of separable fasteners onsaid sheet, said envelope including first, second and third fastenerreceivers in co-planar alignment, said first fastener receiver beingspaced from said second, and said second fastener receiver being spacedfrom said third a distance corresponding with the spacing of theseparable fasteners on said sheet, whereby said separable fasteners ofsaid sheet may be selectively attached either to said first and blefasteners of said sheet.

1. A combined stadium seat and carrier for liquor or the like,comprising first and second open half shells, each including arectangular back wall portion, a rectangular tubular skirt having afirst rectangular edge fixed to and co-extensive with the margins ofeach said back wall portion, the other edge of said skirt defining anopen rectangular mouth portion, connection means hingedly joining oneside of a mouth portion of one said shell with a complemental side ofthe mouth portion of the other said shell for folding movement about alinear attachment area to enable said shells to be folded from an openposition to a closed position whereat the free edges of said skirts arein juxtaposition to define an enclosed envelope, complemental fastenermeans along said free edges of said mouth portions surrounding saidattachment area, said fastener means being shiftable between joining andunjoining positions of said mouth portions, a flexible sheet disposedwithin said envelope, hinge connector means joining said sheet to saidenvelope for movement about a pivot axis parallel to one of said marginsof one said back wall, said sheet being of a size substantially equal tothe area of said back, said sheet being foldable about said pivot axisbetween a storage position whereat said sheet is enclosed within saidenvelope to a dispensing position whereat said sheet hangs perpendicularto said one back wall, bottle carrier means mounted on said sheet forholding a liquor bottle or the like, and a rectangular padding member ofsubstantial thickness fixed to each said back wall portion, said paddingmembers, in the envelope defining position of said device, providingshock insulators for a bottle held in said carrier means and, in theopen position of said device, defining a pair of seat cushions.
 2. Adevice in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hinge connector means forsaid sheet includes a spaced pair of separable fasteners on said sheet,said envelope including first, second and third fastener receivers inco-planar alignment, said first fastener receiver being spaced from saidsecond, and said second fastener receiver being spaced from said third adistance corresponding with the spacing of the separable fasteners onsaid sheet, whereby said separable fasteners of said sheet may beselectively attached either to said first and second fastener receivers,or to said second and third fastener receivers, the lines between saidfirst and second complemental fasteners, and said second and thirdcomplemental fasteners being perpendicular to each other and parallel toadjacent sides of said envelope.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 2wherein said bottle carrier means comprises a pouch portion including abottom and an open mouth, the open mouth of said pouch facing toward theline between said separable fasteners of said sheet.